View full sizeGretchen Humphrey'Foolish Pleasure' is a favorite of Gretchen Humphrey

If you grow roses and live within 20 miles of Pioneer Courthouse Square, chances are you qualify for at least one of the 13 divisions of the Royal Rosarian Foundation Rose Garden Contest.

Traditionally, rose gardens are beds of bushes in uniform lines. But the Portland competition includes categories for cottage gardens, miniature rose displays and street-side plantings. Senior citizens and people with disabilities have their own class. As few as 12 plants can get you a place in the winner's circle.

"I think people should try," says Karen Allen, who won the Prime Minister's Trophy last year. "If you think you have a pretty garden, chances are you do."

Allen and three other winners share their experiences and offer a little advice to inspire you to join in the competition.

Claudia Meikle looks out her kitchen window to the semi-circle of raised stone beds filled with the hybrid teas roses she loves -- and which won her an award in last year's Royal Rosarian Foundation Rose Garden Contest. "It was great fun," she says. "It's not only exciting to win, but there's also the satisfaction with the work I had done; it's a spiritual thing."

She was, however, surprised at her win. The spring weather was so cold and rainy, only one lone flower showed itself. "When they came to judge, I disappeared," Meikle says. "I was so embarrassed. When I won, I thought, 'What is that about?'"

It was, the judges said, about how well she had taken care of her garden. The bushes were green and lush and obviously going to bloom profusely.

Meikle fell in love with roses in the mid-'80s when she lived on the border of Columbia Edgewater Country Club. She planted 300 roses, digging all the holes herself. She was so serious about Portland Rose Society shows that she grew nine of each hybrid tea in order to have a nice group to choose from on the day of judging.

Meikle and her husband now live in the Claremont community in Bethany, and she's down to 100 roses. Many are her favorite hybrid teas, but there are plenty of other types such as floribundas and miniatures.

"We have a nice mix," Meikle. "These days, if I find something I like, I get it. I'm not so fussy anymore."

In the 2011 Rosarian garden contest, Meikle entered in the formal division, and plans to do the same this year.

"Anything better than one flower will be wonderful this year," she says.

Name: Gretchen and Mike Humphrey Award: Miniature Roses, 25 to 50 bushes Number of roses in garden: 350 Favorite rose: 'Luis Desamero' (miniflora) or 'Foolish Pleasure' (miniature) Tip for entering: Roses are easier than you think. Come to Portland Rose Society meetings. "We will tell them everything they need to know and promise not to make it hard."

For 25 years, Gretchen Humphrey has grown and enjoyed roses. But 15 years ago, she joined the Portland Rose Society and said, "OK, I'm doing this. I'm not kind of doing it."

She wasn't kidding. Today, Humphrey is president of the Portland Rose Society and grows 350 roses in her Tigard garden. Many -- about 80 to 90 -- are planted along the street for the enjoyment of passers-by.

"One time a little lady knocked on my door," she says. "After that, she joined the rose society and last year she won. People think roses are hard to grow, but they're not."

Sometimes, Humphrey enters her property's front, "more gardeny" -- area in the Rosarian garden competition, but she goes in phases. Recently, it's miniature roses that have her attention.

"I really love miniatures because they have exquisite form and color and are easy to grow," she says. "I didn't really understand what to do with them when I started. Then I looked at them and thought, 'Eureka, duh, I get it. They're exactly like big roses."

View full sizeMerril Allen'Conundrum' is a favorite of Karen and Merrill Allen

Name: Karen and Merril Allen Award: Royal Rosarian Prime Minister's Trophy Number of roses in garden: 300 Favorite rose: 'Conundrum' (miniflora) Tip for entering: Neaten up the garden to minimize distraction and highlight the roses. Rake around the beds.

It was his-and-her gifts that got Karen and Merril Allen into roses. On a Mother's Day about 25 years ago, Merril presented Karen with a tree rose; for Father's Day she reciprocated with six hybrid teas. When the couple realized they needed to learn more, they joined the Portland Rose Society and started to get involved. They entered a few roses in the novice category in a rose show and won a trophy.

"That was it," says Karen. "It became our sport."

The Allens have become judges and crammed their double lot in Rocky
Butte with plants, including about 300 roses that Karen keeps track of
on sheets of paper.

"We mix things in," she says. "Ours is not a formal rose garden. It's more of a cottage garden."

Their
roses have won them a lot of awards, including the city's Frank L.
Beach Visibility Award that considers the view of the garden from the
street.

Name: Judy Fleck Award: Rose Plantings, 25 to 75 bushes Number of roses in garden: 230 Favorite rose: 'Gold Medal' (hybrid tea) Tip for entering: Don't deadhead the roses. Take out the flowers that are well spent, but leave the roses at all stages of openness.

On Valentine's Day 18 years ago, Judy Fleck came home from a long day of teaching. She walked into the house and her husband said, "Didn't you notice?" and then showed her a dozen roses. But they weren't in a vase. "He and a friend planted me a rose garden."

It was a romantic gesture that proved addictive. Judy fell in love with roses. But the relationship cooled a bit when she figured out their dark yard in Gladstone was not the best place to grow them.

"I tried really hard," she says. "But I found out I really did need sun. And the soil, well, let's just say they call it Gladstone for a reason."

Judy realized she needed more light, too. So the Flecks moved into a new place in Tigard, where the sun shone brightly. The lot has no trees, making it a great place for roses -- 230 plants and counting. She doesn't hold herself to one type of rose, though hybrid teas get the most room.

Roses, she says give her the biggest bang for her buck.

"I get really picky about plants because I have a small lot," Judy says. "People say roses are so much work, but show me another flower in the garden that lasts, in our world, from June until Thanksgiving. "

Her efforts have won her garden awards in divisions for large bushes and miniatures. She said she probably will enter again this year, but isn't sure what category.

"When you enter, your garden is done for the rest of the year," she says. "It's a good motivator."

ROYAL ROSARIAN FOUNDATION ROSE GARDEN CONTEST

WHEN: Judging will take place Sunday, June 17, and Monday, June 18.

DEADLINE TO ENTER: Monday, June 11.

RULES AND ENTRY FORM: Online: royalrosarians.org (click on "foundation" on the top bar). Or contact John Creegan, 503-293-5002, jtcreegan293@msn.com. TIP: There are lots of categories. Choose one that fits your garden. And don't forget to read the rules.